Friday, December 23, 2011

Hey everyone! Sorry for the late post but my life has been crazy! The last giveaway of the year will be a Shea Moisture gift set! The giveaway will be conducted on my Facebook fan page... I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Blessed New Year!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Many of you already know my next blogger/vlogger... She's the ATL's Blonde Naturally Curly Bombshell...Arkeedah! I had the pleasure of meeting her at the 2011 Fall Fro Fashion Week bloggers luncheon and I was immediately drawn to her. Her personality is upbeat, her style is funky and her blog is full of the "must go" hair events in the Atlanta area. YouTube is also her stomping ground, its the place to go if you want to mimic her signature fro or any other great styles.

Her blog is title appropriately 'It's Arkeedah.com' and I make it a point to check it out every week. I asked my fellow FroFashionWeek 2012 supporter to share with my As The Wind Blows readers her Favorite products and her Holiday Style.... she was kind enough to share this video! Check out the vid and her blog...I'm sure you will want to subscribe!

****GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY****

Wow, Giveaway #3 is FANTASTIC....I have the pleasure of offering my readers a chance to win the extremely popular Tomoka's Twist Hair Ties...Mimi of Tomoka's twist has kindly provided two of her most popular styles to be part of this giveaway for the holidays...

Do you Rock Locs, Up-dos, Ponytails, Puffs, Buns? (to name a few) Then this is the giveaway for you! These ties will provide a flexible and comfortable fit for your beautiful crown. Make sure you check out her website for more great Holiday or everyday accessories! www.tomokastwists.com

Check out the choices!

<----S. Luxurious VII

Luxurious S. - II ------------>

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter & leave a comment too!Thanks! You guys are the Best!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I am loving the Holiday Giveaway season, how about you? Well its time to meet another sista that cant be missed. She is a blogger/vlogger who offers unbiased reviews on products with tons of great giveaways! If you love discovering new products but want a chance to try them too then you need to quickly subscribe to her YouTube channel.

Latina(@LatinaR on twitter) isn't a shutter bug so I am happy she was kind enough to share a few Holiday Hairstyle photos with my readers. Organic and natural products are her "must haves" and TLC Naturals (located in the UK) fits the bill.

She loves the :

Hibiscus Rose Leave-in conditioner because its pink and reminds her of strawberry sorbet, she also likes the softness of her hair after each use.

Choco Shea Decandent Hair Butter reminds her of a perfect cup of hot chocolate when you smell the perfectly blended moisturizer. Latina wears it daily.

Grapefruit Hibiscus Hydrating Hair Spritz with its light scent, no flaky build up or hard crunchy feeling is perfect for her twist or braid styles. .

Finally the Shea Baobab Nourishing Hair Oil a small amount daily to touch up goes a long way. The product doesn't leave her with any oily stain residue.

I haven't tried the TLC Naturals but how cool would it be to make friends with the ladies across the pond? (Hint Hint) LOL!

This week I would like to showcase a company that I discovered while on twitter. The Velvet Box is a great small business ran by Patricia Miller from my home state of Michigan!! Her jewelry will bring elegance & a flare to any ensemble you wear this Holiday season. Check her out!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Hi Team Natural....with the Holiday season quickly approaching I will be posting only once a week in the month of December but don't worry, I am so happy to be able to showcase somegreat bloggers and giveaway some fabulous prizes from companies that love the natural hair community.

I have some great ideas for 2012 and I hope you ladies & gents will continue this ride with me.Many of you know I am a Christmas baby so I am blessed to be getting closer to my 38th birthday. My family is coming to visit, the kids are closing out the school year and life is simply hectic. So please check in every Thursday, check out the featured bloggers, visit the great companies supplying giveaways and enjoy your family this Holiday Season.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Happy Holidays Everyone! I have the pleasure of beginning a series this month featuring some of my favorite bloggers, their Holiday styles and their "Must Haves" for the season. This series will be every Thursday in December until the end of the year and will be combined with my Holiday Giveaway! So excited...How about you?

First up is a sooooo fabulously chic blogger, Tikisha, of Kandidkoilz.onsugar.com who will always leaves us with a few smooches. I continue to read her blog because she keeps me up with the latest make-up and style trends. I love her boldness, sense of humor and her no excuses attitude....

This holiday season she has decided to get "Damned" by the ladies of the Damn Salon with City Twists and I'll be damned if I'm not a little jealous. @kandidkoilz ,on twitter, has decided to style her hair in an updo for the season's events. Styling these twists couldn't be easier, no pins required..just grab a few pieces, tie them to hold the hair in place then tuck and roll...Voila (she tells me)....

I couldn't let her leave without getting a few of her "Must Haves" of 2011 and she was kind enough to share!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

I had the pleasure of choosing a beautiful handmade accessory from Sasha, the owner and creator of So Knotty. Her online store is full of beautiful designs that is sure to fit every personality and style. The unique pieces are a must have for trendy ladies looking for one of a kind addition to add to their winter wardrobe. I love the softness, the way I was able to manipulate the strands individually to create fullness or to elongate and the color.

The company is an eCommerce that is based in Atlanta, Georgia but this is definitely not just a "southern thing".

I find myself excited about the cooler temperatures just so I can rock this So Knotty creation more & more.

Have you tried So Knotty? What about other hand-made creations? Tell me what you think! Make sure you check out the site and let her know I sent ya...You never know, you may receive VIP treatment..... http://soknotty.storenvy.com

Sunday, November 20, 2011

There are two major reasons I love to shop...A great deal and supporting small businesses!

I've reached out to some of my favorite businesses to get the 411 on the great bargins they will have on their products! I plan to use my free FedEx American Express gift card to pick me up some goodies, and I want you to get some too! Small business is the core of America and especially the Natural Hair Community so we need to support each other as much as possible!

Save your shopping until Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Cyber Monday...November 25- 27...Continue to support these companies & tell your friends to do so as well.....I will also include some businesses that are larger but place a lot of support to the concerns of the natural hair community.

*Check each description for the discount dates, rules & restrictions.*

Rachel Stewart Jewlery....Bold, Empowering & just plain FLY! Her jewlery can help you go from "seen" to "remembered". With celebrities like Kim Coles rocking her earrings there is no question you want some of her jewlery in your collection. Rachel shows that hip, retro and afrocentric can go hand and hand without skipping a beat! Check out her collection and follow her on twitter.

So Knotty...Stand apart from the rest with hand-made knit accessories...If you dont want attention for your unique pieces then dont click here..but if trendy yet timeless accessories make you tingle "So Knotty" is for you (us)...They have two specials please read the restrictions!

BOGO Half off on 11/25 & 11/26 but hurry and check out their Facebook page for a Cyber Monday Special that requires action to begin by 11/23

What is Spring without FroFashionWeek in Atlanta,GA? Well don't miss your last opportunity to get an All Access Pass for $75 (regular $99) on Black Friday... Check out the site and facebook page for info on how you can make sure you are a part of a fashion show, workshops and shopping that everyone will be talking about February 3-5 2012..I will be there so I hope you will too!

I recently reviewed two of the faboulous butters from the one & only Belle Butters and I fell in love. You can now make them a stable to your routine at a discount! Black Friday enjoy free shipping & Cyber Monday receive 10% off your puchase of $35 or more with the coupon code ZE24CS..Check out her site for more information.

A few companies will be posting their specials on Monday or later during the week so check out the facebook page or websites of your Favs and give them support while saving.

Friday, November 11, 2011

I had the pleasure of corresponding with Tasha, the owner and operator of Belle Butters LLC, and decided to review her organic butters. I selected the Mango Moisture Butter for face & the Shea-Mango Fluffy Butter for hair/body to try.

Lets begin with the Mango face butter...My first impression was doubt..I wasn't fond of the smell and didn't think it would really make a difference for me....WELL...I was wrong! The smell wasn't my favorite but it didn't linger. I washed my face and used the butter as a night moisturizer first. I loved the way it felt, creamy and thick but not too thick. My face instantly glowed and looked hydrated but I tried to not fall into the placebo effect. I continued to use the butter in the morning the next day and nightly/daily for three more days. I loved it. I didn't have any allergic reactions, my face was soft and hydrated and i truly felt the butter enhanced my skin. When i used the mango butter under make-up it seemed to replace my primer very well, i don't wear much make-up (just concealer & powder), so I cant recommend you skip it but it worked great for me.

I give this product 9 out of 10!

The Mango Fluffy Butter is labeled for hair/body but i chose to review this product on my hair. I decided to wash, condition, use a leave in and do two strand twists on wet hair with the butter. I was very happy with the results. My curls were well defined and for the first two days my hair didn't need any reapplication. I did add some extra butter on day three but overall it was a positive experience. I try a lot of products for twists and this was a good one.

I give this product 8 out of 10!

﻿

after applying butter to a section of wet hair

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two-strand twists on wet hair w/butter

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after removing twists after hair air-dried

﻿ Ingredients on labels

Mango Moisture Butter for hair

raw pressed mango butter

sweet almond oil

grapeseed oil

lavender essential oil

Shea Mango Fluffy Butter Hair/Body

unrefined shea butter

raw pressed mango butter

jojoba oil

vegetable glycerin

indian castor oil

vanilla fragrance oil

Have you tried Belle Butters? How would you like a chance to try Belle Butters for yourself? Stay tuned for an upcoming GIVEAWAY! Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Hey ladies & gents..I was checking out one of my fellow bloggers and read a post titled "The Biggest Loser" Challenge. I read further and Bree of The Mane Source was on a mission to lose some unwanted baby weight and she wanted to bring her readers on the journey with her. I was inspired but not really (eating Arbys as I read) until I say a PRIZE! No it wasn't the desire to have a healthy body, live longer or fit my clothes it was the chance to win $200 in cash and prizes! So sad but Don't Judge Me LOL!

I decided that I would share this challenge with you guys! Now don't get me wrong, I hope to be the winner but I will also feel like a winner if its one of you guys...So here's the details (taken from her blog):

Here’s what what you need to do:

Weight/measure yourself and take before pics

Monday’s will be our official weigh-in days. Try to weigh yourself when you first wake, in the buff, AFTER you’ve gone to the potty for the most accurate weight.

Comment on this blog (and yours if you have one) so that we all can encourage each other

Now I'm going to be brave and put out my before shots so I'm going to need you guys for support! Feel free to talk about my hair cause I don't know what that problem is!

The contest began today but I will begin tomorrow it will conclude on January 7, 2012. Please join me & The Mane Source and get some weight off. Leave a comment if you plan to participate & email Bree so that you can be eligible for the prize. Check out her blog too for more info on this challenge & other great advise.

Send an email to thebiggestloser@themanesource.com! This will be your official entry! Tell her Mslawanda of As The Wind Blows sent ya!

The natural ladies stepped out this weekend in Huntsville, Alabama for two events that allowed sisters to network, discuss hair and have tons of fun. Candice & Jana of Knotty and Nice (@kissmycurls) along with Ken Burkeen of Huetiful Steamers set out to paint the town Kinky!

The first event was an evening affair at one of the new additions to the beautiful and trendy Bridgestreet Town Center called Watercress. The restaurant was the setting for great food and drinks that the hosts provided free of charge to all the attendees. Unfortunately I couldn't attend this event personally (I'm severely allergic to seafood) but my good friend Precious filled in perfectly for me. The kinky, curly & wavy chicas dined on shrimps, crab cakes, fried oysters, kobe beef sliders & fabulous drinks. The advice was abundant and the atmosphere was welcoming.

Day two brought me out of the house and in with the fun! This event added another participate in the mix, the ladies of Love and Sugar company. The "Make me Somethin Nice" party was the place to be today. My road partner Annie & I met up with my new partner in crime Precious at the location on Andrew Jackson Way...(it was an adventure to get there trust me). We were greeted by a gentleman that verified we were on the guest list, $22 cost to attend, given a raffle ticket for our chance to win a Huetiful steamer and a beautiful martini glass with colorful ice cubes and ...Sprite lol..it was great. The ladies of Love & Sugar Company allowed the ladies of Knotty & Ken to relax and mingle as they put on a show.

We made flower pins from scratch, organic gel using flax seeds and sugar body scrubs! Ken Burkeen gave a great presentation of the benefits of the steamer and a nice lady (i guess) won the giveaway steamer...3 people & we still didn't come home with one...That's OK, I had a great time and met some beautiful natural hair women. I normally have to travel to Birmingham, Nashville or Atlanta to attend events with marque players so I am very excited to have a star event in my own backyard.

Enjoy the slide show of the gorgeous Huntsville area ladies showcasing their natural hair!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

On behalf of Naturally Me! Media, LLC the parent company of 'Fro Fashion Week I would like to say congratulations on becoming a Lead Press Supporter of 'Fro Fashion Week!

Wow, I am excited! Attending Fro Fashion Week was a blast this year and I'm honor to have the opportunity to bring exclusive interviews and information to all my great readers. If you haven't attended the event, held twice a year in Atlanta,GA, you should. Workshops, shopping, celebrities, fashion and more to make this week long event a "must add" to your 2012 agenda.

I will share more info with you as I can but please check out the site for the event, watch the YouTube coverage and see why you need to join me at Fro Fashion Week 2012!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I am so happy to offer my readers a unique way to learn more about hair and body products. I will begin offering reviews from a variety of people instead of just myself! I will continue to do reviews but I will also approach people on the street, followers on twitter & Facebook fans.

My first attempt is a Giveaway/Contest! I approached 4 ladies about reviewing Jessicurl with honest & fair feedback, they agreed, I informed them that they also had the opportunity to win a prize for participating. Jess from Jessicurl was kind enough to provide samples, pamphlets & a chance to win Full size bottles of the Confidence Collection for the participants & for YOU!

How it works:There are 4 participants with different hair types..

1. Please watch all 4 videos and choice the participant you would like to vote for...it can be for the way they reviewed the product, the way you relate to them or because you like them :)2. You must follow my blog, Like Jessicurl on FB and either like As the Wind Blows fan page on FB or follow me on twitter.3. Leave a comment under this blog saying "enter me" and the participant you would like to voted for

Thats it! One vote per like/follow....There will be one Reader winner from the votes (chosen by random) and one winner for the participants (chosen by the most votes)

First up Shanita ..I chose her because she is a YouTube Vlogger that has experience reviewing products and her perpective would be interesting...

2nd we have Jessica one of my neighbors who never wears her hair down but is a naturally curly lady..i felt her view point could help those with a love/hate curl relationship..

3rd Miss Tamia..she was kind enough to step in when my previous participant dropped out..she is 12 years old and she loves her hair..i chose her because she normally wears her hair straight so this would be new showing her hair curly and she gives a youth perpective

4th and final is Precious a newly naturally curly lady that currently wants to explore products and find her "must haves"...she is very excited about being natural so she will give another view

Thank you for reading...Vote!! Contest will run 10/25/11- 11/2/11 @ midnight CST

Monday, October 17, 2011

Introducing my only daughter,Tia! She loves all types of hairstyles, from kinky twists to sew ins. We talk about hair all the time and embracing our natural textures. Length is her biggest concerns so as long as the braids are at a minimum of bra-strap length she is fine. Many teens long to have hair hanging along their backs and Tia is one of them. I haven't had the struggle with wanted straight hair, she has always liked curly hair but length is her love. Her natural length was always pretty long until a very bad experience with micro-braids.

In an attempt to provide Tia with a protective style for the summer that would give her the ability to enjoy all the water activities and her grandparents without concern for her hair, she lost 4-5 inches of her hair. The micro-braids caused hair loss from her edges & sides and the stylist (unknowingly i assume) cut 4 inches of her hair removing them . Needless to say she was devastated and I was furious. We gathered ourselves and I went on a mission to help Tia regain her healthy hair.

I began by messaging her hair line daily with a whipped Shea butter mixture, weekly hot oil treatments & monthly deep conditioning. I would give her roller sets, two strand twists etc to allow her to have styles without heat and little manipulation during the week. Tia began to see great results on her edges but the length of her hair was still an area of concern for her. To give her length I suggested braids again but to guarantee that the hair would not have a lot of tension I did them myself.

First I tried kinky twists, then cornrows and individual braids. She has experimented with a micro braid/sew in and although she loved the look the stress on her weak hair was too much. We have decided to stick with a variety of cornrowed styles and individual braids until she has the length she wants. Tia loves my thick curly afros, twists and braid outs but doesn't want this styles for herself. Her hair is thinner and my hair has a kinkier pattern. I feel she accepts her hair and embraces it but choices to make longer length a part of her persona..

I am proud that my daughter has chosen to live a chemically free lifestyle and that she leans towards ethnic styles but I would support her anyway. I share with her my reasons for leaving the chemicals out of my hair and its one of the many ways we have to spend time together. Tia is definitely more than her hair but I'm glad she can love it at a young age.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

I was checking out YouTube for some inspiring hair videos when I noticed a challenge from one the ladies I subscribe to. It was the channel of CoilyHeadChick and she was challenging her viewers to go back to basics. I was interested and watched the part 1 & 2 of her video of a water and hair grease challenge...Yes, Grease...petroleum, mineral oil containing GREASE! There was no way her hair would avoid looking like a Hot Mess..so I thought???? Her hair was beautiful and she claimed it wasn't greasy at all. CoilyHeadChick was calling for us to re-evaluate our product junkie status and go old school...Hmm..maybe i should try it but for some reason I was scared. I decided to tweet: "I need to put my big girl panties on and give this water & grease twist out challenge a try" and to my surprise she replied "yes put them on"...so it was official, I had to give this challenge a try.

In CoilyHeadChick's challenge she used an old favorite of Royal Crown hair grease but I decided to use the green Ultra Sheen Soft Touch I had in my bathroom.

I washed my hair with Shea Moisture Curl Shampoo, I didn't condition but used the Koils by Nature leave in conditioner. My hair was very wet and i applied about a finger tip of grease to the first section of hair. I was nervous but soon found myself feeling comforted. The smell of the hair grease had me instantly reminiscing about sitting on an old milk crate getting my hair pressed by my mother or grandmother. I was smiling for a while but them I remembered the countless hot comb burns on my ear LOL, back to reality! I raked the grease in with my fingers and did two strand twists all over.

I was surprised that my twists didn't feel greasy...the Ultra Sheen had did a great job (so far) of sealing the water in and creating a lot of moisture. I decided to let my hair air dry over night with a satin bonnet on.

The next day I was pleasantly surprised, my curls were the bomb! My curl pattern was amazingly defined and full of sheen. Touching my hair there was a slight amount of glistening on my hands but not enough to classify it as greasy. I was impressed.

CoilyHeadChick is doing the challenge for 30 days but I decided 3 days would be my assessment. The first night I covered my hair with my satin bonnet without re-twisting and my hair was just as curly in the morning. Night 2 I re-twisted and Night 3 I mist again with water and added grease only to the back of my hair. My hair had all the same curls and definition I had on Day 1.

When it comes to the appearance and results of the twist out with grease and water I will say Thumbs Up, however for the overall health and growth from continuous use I will have to stay tune to my YouTube friend, the jury is still out...I think this is a challenge worth watching, with hair care products being so costly, we need to have all the options we can. I am a product junkie and love giving different products a try but I need to make sure I'm not falling for hype!

Thanks for reading & please leave a comment! Check out CoilyHeadChick on YouTube and see if this is a challenge you would like to try...

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

My journey back to my natural hair has been amazing and taking my children along with me has been even better. My two younger children, Jalen 11 & Tia 12, have encountered struggles and opinions about their natural hair but have found a way to love themselves and set their opinions above others. My children and I have leaned on the support of our YouTube family & fellow bloggers who have provide education, support & a sense of community. I hope to encourage other mothers to support their children in this journey by sharing our experiences. I will feature my children in a two part blog post & share their natural hair journey. Let's begin with Jalen....

My 11 year old son, Jalen, made the decision to grow locs on his own. It was a combination of loving longer hair and hating to get a haircut. He is also extremely tenderheaded, like myself, and the thought of little maintenance was appealing. Locs were foreign to me, I didn't know how to start grow them out, maintain them or what to expect. My money was very tight so paying to have them done was out of the question. I decided to enroll in the University of DIY, YouTube. I found a video showing how to palm roll locs and we began our journey. I was surprised to see the results and Jalen was in love. (he had worn cornrows so his hair had length) When we first began the journey, most of the prejudice surprisingly was from our family. They began with the typical stereotypes that people would judge him, they weren't clean & he was ruining his future....Wow at 7 it was over? Constantly family members would ask him when he plan to cut his hair, made faces & tried to reduce his self esteem. Luckily for Jalen he had a mother that taught him that when making decisions there will be people who don't agree but it doesn't make the decision incorrect. He has been wearing locs now for four years and is very confident with them. Jalen has embraced his locs and except for the occasional mistake of people thinking he's as a girl, which puberty is quicker than I like solving, he has not experienced any adverse effects. His peers have accepted his locs as part of him and many parents commend him on his commitment.I believe his ability to deal with the occasional stare or question is due in part to the continuous support he receives from his immediate family and his self confidence. Beginning the journey at a younger age may have helped him and it makes me wonder how the experience would be if he started the journey at an older age. Would the peer pressure would be a stronger factor if he was maybe 15 when it began?What do you think?

How do you feel about locs on young men & young ladies? Would you support your kids wearing locs? Let me know how you feel. I love reading your comments!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

I am so in love with the natural hair community. My experience at Fro Fashion Week cemented those feelings. The city of Atlanta was the perfect stage, a place where every small business made a genuine effort to promote and support the other. Trust me, this wasn't just about networking, it was a passion to make their community successful and let everyone have a place to shine. I have never experienced this before and I like it. I come from a place where if you have a business your family doesn't faithfully support you and if they do they expect a discount. It was beautiful to see very successful black businesses receive support from other black people and black businesses.

I would like to support some small businesses that I have encountered that have a flair, strong sense of community and pride. Many of these businesses without representation have shaped my love of natural hair, natural self and passion of entrepreneurship. Here are a few of them and why I think they stand out for me:

Afrodelik Designs... I first saw one of her funky designs on twitter when Afrobella tweeted a pic with her wearing a shirt. I immediately went to her facebook page to check them out. I knew I wanted one. During my trip to Fro Fashion Week I encountered Pamela Jenkins, owner of Koils by Nature, rocking one of Afrodeliks fabulous tees! The owner Desiree Marshall from my favorite place in Canada, Toronto, has gone out of her way to try and accommodate me being plus size & I appreciate the customer service. (Support without Representation)

ALS... I encounter this fabulous person and her jewelry on twitter. She would tweet pics of her items for purchase but she also makes great YouTube vids showing how you can make anything from headbands to earrings on your own. Alexandra is also part of the natural hair community and shares her passion with others also as a blogger. (Sharing success)

Tomokas Twists..I love her accessories and her personality. I also follow her on twitter but I wanted to spotlight her because she takes a lot of time to spotlight other businesses. Her work is completely original and functional. (Building success for others)

iamherappareal...What can I say but this clothing line is full of FLAVOR! One of my favorites Kim Coles, rocks their gear and I am excited to rock it too. They have fashion tees sure to represent your au natural flavor. (Fab & Full of success)

The last business for this post is Koils by Nature...because I love love love her spirit, passion & of course her products. I meet Pamela at a the Fashion runway at Fro Fashion Week. I spoke with her for about 15 minutes about my hair and not once did she "sell" me her product instead she examined my hair, suggested at home ways to improve it and samples to try. It was not a selling tactic it was a true passion for natural hair! (Passion for business & community)

These are just a few of the great businesses I have encountered. Check out their sites and support them because they are passionate about supporting and providing us with great products. One last special shout out to Tarin Boone of Naturally Me Media, for supporting and giving small business a daily forum to shine & Fro Fashion Week a must experience event...Now go buy!!!